Apple tree &#34;Akita Gold&#34;

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an apple tree having a moderate habit, a good spur-bearing habit and producing a medium size fruit maturing in the middle season similar to &#34;Golden Delicious&#34;. The fruit has a conical to long conical shape, a dull appearance of dots, and a yellow skin. The flesh of the fruit is yellow, very juicy and crisp, has a moderate sweetness and acidity, and an aromatic flavor. Particularly, the storability of the fruit is significantly higher than that of &#34;Golden Delicious&#34;, thereby providing the fruit with an excellent market value.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of appletree having a moderate habit and, especially, excellent storability, andless subject to wounding of the fruit surface and fruit drop during thematuration period.

In Japan, the "Golden Delicious" has been widely cultured instead ofJonathan and Rolls Janet because of its precocious bearing habit, goodharvest and excellent taste. However, "Fuji" and "Orin", with a highstorability, have become available in recent years, so that theavailability of Golden Delicious has decreased abruptly as "GoldenDelicious" has an essentially poor storability.

Our breeding has been aimed at obtaining a new variety of yellow-skinapple having a high market value, a higher storability, compared with"Golden Delicious", and subject to little wounding of the fruit surfaceand little fruit drop during the maturation period. Cultivation andbreeding at an experimental station have been ongoing since 1966.

Accordingly, one purpose of our breeding program is to provide improvedvarieties of apple trees that can replace "Golden Delicious".

ORIGIN AND ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

One new variety of apple tree was a cross-seedling that resulted from acrossing between "Golden Delicious" (♀) (the seed parent) havingexcellent fruit quality with a yellow skin, and "Fuji" (♂) (the pollenparent) having excellent fruit quality and storability, at the AkitaFruit-Tree Experiment Station, 65 Aza-Kaidoshita, Daigo, Hiraka-Machi,Hiraka-gun, Akita-ken, Japan.

Specifically, the crossing was carried out at the station in 1974, seedswere obtained, and the same were sown in a field at the station thefollowing year, 1975, thereby raising 80 seedlings. In 1977, saidseedlings, as a number of seedling line 15-9-16, were top-grafted on"Redgold" (rootstock was Malus prunifolia Borkh. var. ringo Asami), andan evaluation of the same was started. The trees bore fruit in 1981, andthe fruit obtained had excellent storability. The tree was used forprimary selection for the purpose of providing evaluationcharacteristics thereof and the tree was top-grafted again on therootstock, and the top-grafted tree started bearing fruit in 1986. Thetop-grafted tree was then examined for various characteristics, such asstorability, cultivation characteristics of the tree and the like, andit was found that the tree was distinguishable from "Golden Delicious"and "Orin", which are the most closely related to the present variety.Accordingly, we named the said variety "Akita Gold" which is the subjectof the present invention. The genus and species of the tree is "Maluspumila Miller var. domestica Schneider".

Of the varieties, "Golden Delicious" and "Orin", the former is amaternal variety, while the latter is a variety generated from acrossing between "Golden Delicious" and "Indo", and was allocated anincreased area for growing in Japan. It is an attractive variety in thatit has a flower similar to "Indo".

We asexually reproduced this new and distinct variety of apple tree"Akita Gold", by grafting, at the Fruit tree Experiment Station, AkitaPrefecture, and confirmed the homogeneity and stability of "Akita Gold"according to this invention.

An application for this new variety of apple tree "Akita Gold" under theSeeds and Seedling Law of Japan was filed on Jul. 11, 1990, under thefiling number 3997.

SUMMARY OF THE VARIETY

This new variety of apple tree has a moderate spreading habit, and istherefore similar to that of "Golden Delicious", but it is differentfrom "Orin" in that the latter is upright. Although, fruit of the treecan be harvested in mid-October, just as with "Golden Delicious", it isdistinguishable from "Orin", which is harvested in late October in thenorth-west regions of Japan. With respect to shape of the leaf, the newvariety has a dull serrate leaf. "Golden Delicious" and "Orin" both havea sharp serrate leaf. The color of the petal of the tree is a light-pink(J.H.S.C. 5RP 9501, corresponding to "pale purplish pink" in ISCC - NBSchart), while the other said varieties are colored with a deep-pink(J.H.S.C. 5RP 9503 corresponding to "light purplish pink" in ISCC - NBSchart) in the central area of the reverse side thereof. (Color valuespresented are from the Japanese Horticultural Society Color Chart(J.H.S.C.) with reference to the corresponding color description in theISCC - NBS color chart.)

The shape of the fruit of the tree is concial to long conical, whereasthat of the "Golden Delicious" is oblong, and that of the "Orin" isellipsoid and so that these varieties are distinguishable from eachother.

The present fruit has a crown, whereas, both of the reference fruits donot have a crown. The present fruit has a smooth surface, but both ofthe references have rough surfaces blemishes, cracks and are russet. Inthe flesh of the present fruit is a water core, but the references donot contain a water core in the flesh. The fruit of the presentinvention is capable of being stored for five months in a refrigerator,but that of "Orin" and "Golden Delicious" can only be stored for threeand two months, respectively, under similar circumstances. Further, theflesh of the present tree has a stronger Quince aroma than "Orin", and"Golden Delicious" substantially does not have the aroma.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 gives the pedigree of the new and distinct variety of the appletree "Akita Gold";

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a shape of the new variety of apple tree;

FIG. 3 is a photograph of adult leaves (upper side) of the new varietyof apple tree;

FIG. 4 is a photograph of adult leaves (reverse side) of the new varietyof apple tree;

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety of apple tree;

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the flower buds of the new variety of appletree;

FIG. 7 is a photograph of side views of the fruit of the new variety ofapple tree;

FIG. 8 is a photograph of cavities of fruit of the new variety of appletree;

FIG. 9 is a photograph of basins of fruit of the new variety of appletree;

FIG. 10 is a photograph of longitudinal-sectional views of fruit of thenew variety of apple tree;

FIG. 11 is a photograph of cross-sectional views of fruit of the newvariety of apple tree;

FIG. 12 is a photograph of seeds of the new variety of apple tree; and

FIG. 13 is a photograph of stipules of the new variety of apple tree.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The characteristics of the new and distinct variety of apple tree "AkitaGold" are as follows:

Tree:

Shape.--Medium, same as "Golden Delicious".

Habit.--Increasing substantially, the same as "Golden Delicious", thetree has the same chilling requirements and hardness as the other appletrees cultured in Japan.

Spur.--Abundantly bearing, the percentage of the number of spur to thetotal of terminal buds is 67.0.

Predominance of axillary flower bud.--Medium, same as "Fuji".

Time of bud break.--Medium, later than "Orin", but earlier than "Fuji".

Production.--As productive as "Golden Delicious". Little biannualproduction. Abundant fruiting every year with appropriate fruitthinning.

Fertility of pollen.--Good, fruit set percentage per crossing togetherwith other main commercial varieties is high.

Branches:

Thickness (one-year-old shoot).--Medium, same as "Fuji".

Size of lenticel (one-year-old shoot).--Small, same as "Fuji".

Length of internode.--Medium, 3.18 cm.

Number of lenticel.--Abundant, the number is 184, lenticels of "GoldenDelicious" and "Orin" are 158 and 166, respectively, per 10 cm of same.

Color of lenticel.--Reddish-brown (J.H.S.C.6YR 1615, corresponding to"pale yellowish pink" in the ISCC - NBS chart), which is lighter thanthat of "Fuji".

Leaves:

Shape.--Oval, similar to "Fuji".

Serrations.--Dull serrate.

Size.--Medium, same as "Fuji". The leaf has a size of about 9.3 cm inlength, which is shorter than "Orin", and about 5.2 cm in width.

Color.--Green (J.H.S.C.3G 4309, corresponding to "strong green" in theISCC - NBS chart), a little bit lighter than "Orin".

Petiole.--Short, the petiole has a length of about 2.54 cm which is thesame as "Fuji", and is shorter than that of A "Orin"; the thickness ofpetiole is thin, 0.20 cm, which is the same as "Fuji".

Stipule.--Small. The stipule is a little bit smaller than that of"Orin", and has a size of about 0.58 cm in length and about 0.12 cm inwidth. The stipule has a sickle shape.

Flowers:

Flower number in a flower cluster.--Medium, 5 to 6 per cluster.

Size (opened flower).--Medium, 5.17 cm in diameter and larger than"Fuji".

Color (unopened flower).--Light pink (J.H.S.C.5RP 9503, corresponding to"light purplish pink" in the ISCC - NBS chart), lighter than "Orin" and"Golden Delicious".

Shape of petals.--Oval, length/width=1.56, a little longer than "Fuji".The petals are about 2.32 cm in length and about 1.49 cm in width.

Color of petals.--White (J.H.S.C.2RP 9201, corresponding to "purplishwhite" in the ISCC - NBS chart) (upper side) and pink (J.H.S.C.5RP 9502,corresponding to "pale purplish pink" in the ISCC - NBS chart) (reverseside) same as "Golden Delicious".

Number of petals.--Medium, 5 petals.

Number of stamens.--Medium, 20-21 stamens, same as the other varieties.

Color of anthers.--Light yellow (J.H.S.C.5Y 2504, corresponding to"light yellow" in the ISCC - NBS chart).

Number of pollen.--Medium. Percentage of fertility is 97.8 percent.

Flowering time.--Medium in the season; slightly later than "Orin" andfaster than "Fuji".

Fruit:

Size.--Medium (about 278 g).

Shape.--Conical to long conical.

Crowning at eye end.--Medium.

Aperture of eye.--Shallow.

Depth of basin.--Medium (1.17 cm), close to "Fuji".

Breadth of basin.--Medium (3.31 cm), narrower than "Fuji".

Depth of stalk cavity.--Medium (1.70 cm).

Breadth of stalk cavity.--Broad (3.81 cm), almost the same breadth as"Fuji".

Color of skin.--Yellow (J.H.S.C.7Y 2703, corresponding to "lightgreenish yellow" in the ISCC - NBS chart), same as "Golden Delicious".

Type of cover color of skin.--Yellow (J.H.S.C.5Y 2505, corresponding to"brilliant yellow" in the ISCC - NBS chart), lighter than "GoldenDelicious".

Amount of russet.--Absent.

Shape of lenticel.--Round.

Size of dots.--Medium.

Number of dots.--Few, fewer than "Golden Delicious".

Silvery mottle of skin.--Absent.

Shininess of skin.--Moderate.

Greasiness of skin.--Moderate.

Bloom of skin.--Absent.

Cracking tendency of skin.--Absent.

Surface texture of skin.--Smooth.

Length of stalk.--Long (3.38 cm).

Thickness of stalk.--Medium (0.20 cm), slender than "Fuji".

Distinct swelling at end of stalk.--Absent.

Size of core.--Medium, length cut core/length cut fruit=39.5 percent.

Shape of core.--Refer to photographs 10 and 11.

Number of core cells.--Medium.

Color of the flesh.--Yellow (J.H.S.C.5Y 2503, corresponding to "paleyellow" in the ISCC - NBS chart), same as "Golden Delicious" and "Fuji".

Browning of the flesh.--Medium, ssame as "Orin" and "Fuji".

Firmness of the flesh.--Firm.

Texture of the flesh.--Fine.

Water core (glassiness).--Strong.

Sweetness of the flesh.--Medium, refractometer index is 13 to 15percent.

Acidity of the flesh.--Medium, content of maleic acid is 0.45 to 0.55percent, slightly stronger than "Fuji".

Astringency of the flesh.--Absent.

Flavor of the flesh.--Strong, same as "Starking Delicious".

Juiciness of the flesh.--Juicy.

Maturity.--Mid-October in area of Akita-ken, in Japan, medium maturingcultivar.

Seed:

Number of fully developed seeds.--Many (over 10). Shape of seeds:Ovovoid. Size of seeds: Medium.

Physiological and ecological characteristics:

Predominancy of precocity.--Medium, start bearing at 3 years old (usingM. 26 rootstock).

Self-fruitfulness.--Medium.

Early drop of fruit.--None or slight.

Preharvest drop of fruit.--None or slight.

On-tree storage.--Excellent. No mealiness and deterioration in fruitquality. No fruit drop after harvesting season.

Physiological disorder of the fruit.--Medium.

Keeping quality of fruits I (ordinary storage).--Long, at roomtemperature for 20 to 30 days.

Keeping quality of fruits II (cold storage).--Long, in refrigeratorafter 5 months the fruits maintain 14 pounds.

Occurrence of core rot.--None or minimal.

Resistance to alternaria blotch.--Moderate.

Resistance to powdery mildew.--Moderate.

Resistance to aphid.--Moderate.

Resistance to other diseases.--Moderate.

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of apple tree, substantially asillustrated and described herein, characterized over known apple treesby (A) having a moderate habit, and (B) producing a medium size fruithaving a conical to long conical shape, (a) maturing in the middleseason, and (b) having (1) an excellent storability compared with"Golden Delicious", which is the seed parent, (2) a dull appearancecaused by few dots of medium size against a yellow colored surface,which overlays a yellow ground color skin, and (3) a yellow flesh thatis juicy and crisp, has a moderate sweetness and acidity, an aromaticflavor, provides a good sweet-acid balance and has excellent consumptionquality.